What’s the most annoying trope in books or movies?
I believe the most annoying trope in books and movies is that there exists a double standard in stories of romantic pursuit. We all know the boy-gets-girl trope. For one example, in Dead Poets Society, Knox relentlessly pursues Chris until she finally giggles and calls him “infuriating” and they get together. Examples abound in TV as well—The Big Bang Theory comes to mind. Flip the genders. If Knox had been a female character, there would have been no “carpe diem” rationalization for her stalking behaviour—on the contrary, she would have been villainized as a dangerous psychopath. Think of Alicia Silverstone’s character in The Crush. Usually, when a female protagonist is in love with a stranger, the writers eventually make her change her mind—or get to “know her own mind”—and have her fall in love with a different man who has already chosen her. While You Were Sleeping comes to mind there. In my opinion, this double standard sends a problematic message to women and girls: Don’t trust your feelings, wait to be chosen, or you risk vilification, humiliation, and certain rejection.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.